I have recently finished reading Jakob the Liar, a story about a Jew, named Jakob, who lives in a ghetto in Nazi occupied Poland. To distract his friend from doing something stupid, which might have got him killed, Jakob tells him some good news about the war that he overheard on the radio in the German army office, namely that the Russian army is advancing into Poland. When asked how he heard this news, Jakob lies, saying that he heard it on his radio. This causes quite a stir in the ghetto, as radios are forbidden, on penalty of death, and sets in motion a chain of events that Jakob cannot control.

Much of the story revolves around Jakob trying to find a way to get rid of the phantom radio he has claimed, but each time he is thwarted, ironically, by his conscience. The good news he invents, and that all believe he heard on the radio, gives the people in the ghetto some hope. Suicides come to an end, for example, as people expectantly await each day's news of the Russian advances. This is justification enough for Jakob to continue "tuning in". When he does reveal the truth about these "broadcasts" to one of his friends, in the hope of putting the radio out of commission, the friend commits suicide, and Jakob continues his "broadcasts".

It takes a brave person to create hope in the midst of a desperate situation, especially when that person feels hopelessness. Jakob's name is linked to "liar" in the title of this book, but what is memorable about him is his heroism. Heroism, like lying, is dependant on the situation. At times heroism is leading, rallying, encouraging others to battle. At times it is the act of going against the popular sentiment to lead away from conflict. Heroism can lie as much in being silent as in raising one's voice, as much in standing alone as in being popular. The hero is the one who does something unusual for the benefit of the greater good.

And like lying, heroism is unexpected.

21 June 2002

Dion Marc Delport

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